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What Does ‘Age Appropriate Books’ Mean?

 in Books / Interesting / Opinion by

Reading books, and letting your kids read books, is a very personal choice. Children develop at different speeds and have different experiences which influence them.

A lot of books for younger readers are classified for certain ages and then up to certain books being ‘adult’ books.

But what does it mean to read an age appropriate book?

First off, you have the writing style and word choices. There is certain vocabulary that certain ages just do not know. That’s part of schooling and development. I don’t think you’re going to see many 7 years olds reading Jane Austen – but you may!

Next, you have the topics and themes that are in the books. I’ve touched on this with other posts in the past, but certain themes shouldn’t be in certain books. Children’s books shouldn’t be over violent, over graphic with their topics or over sexualized. The kind of violence you see in kids books may be bullying versus an adult book which could be murder! Romance in kids books is holding hands, maybe kissing for younger adults and then adult books having the horizontal tango.

But you, or others, may say “well, I don’t mind my child reading adult books with adult themes.”

I want to be clear, you are welcome to that opinion as as a parent you have every right to parent your child. However, one thing to consider is what is considered safely understanding something as well.

Children are developing. They are learning right from wrong. They are learning what being a ‘good’ person is.

I heard from a fellow Bookstagrammer that younger boys were reading Haunting Adeline, you know the book about stalking and some very dark things, and there was a concern that it would color them. Color them as in make them think that these things were okay because the book was so popular.

You sometimes see adults on the Biker side of Instagram reading some of our darker books and being like “You guys like this?” Liking something in a book and wanting that actually in real life is different. Knowing what is okay and what is not is the important line.

Younger readers may not have those skills yet. To be honest, there’s plenty of adults who don’t either. But when you are young, you are impressionable and so being a bit more careful is useful.

Books for younger people address topics in different ways and use different language. It’s not always because they can’t know about things, but because it’s presented in a way that they can understand.

So absolutely, if your child reads above their level that is fine! But certainly have them read books with themes that are appropriate for their ages. Or at least consider the impact of what they are reading. Some children’s life experience have them exposed to certain things before others. That’s okay! But doing it in a healthy way, with healthy conversations, is important.

Make sure that if your children do read those kind of books, especially if they have access to Amazon Kindle Unlimited (where a lot of these books can be easily access), that they know that they can come to you with questions to understand what they are reading.

Kids are naturally curious. I know that I was and we have to do our best to protect them. Books are one unrestricted way that they can access information – I know I used to sneak adult books in the library because no one would know! So creating a safe space and letting them know that they can ask questions about anything they read creates a healthy reading environment in a world full of potentially ‘unhealthy’ books.

What do you think about all of this?

Book Covers: Are They Misleading? 1

 in Books / Interesting / Opinion / Young Adult by

This post is my thoughts & opinions on what I am seeing.

Book covers are a very important part of a book. They look gorgeous on your bookshelf, can be used as marketing tools and (for some of us) are the reason that we buy a book.

But one thing I’ve noticed recently is book covers of books that have quite adult themes are sometimes a little misleading and, through this, encouraging/enticing the wrong audience to read the book potentially.

The one book that immediately comes to mind is Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. Now before you freak out at me, I am not critiquing her book/cover/story (I haven’t even read it) but this is a conversation I have seen related to this books cover and others in that style. This is just the title I’m using as an example.

When you look at this cover (knowing nothing about the book), what do you think? What do you think the book is about? What age group do you think it’s for?

For me, I think high school/college romance. Something cutesy. Maybe something for younger adult readers or early adults (like the under 18 age range specifically, maybe even 16 and below).

If that’s what you thought, then you’d be pretty wrong. It’s a spicy, explicit book for 18+ readers. Not child friendly.

I want to be clear, I have no issue with the cover itself. I think it’s cute and definitely would have me read the synopsis. But nowhere on the book, or summary, would you get the indication that it is going to be a book for adults and not for younger readers.

If I was a parent and saw my child reading this book, I wouldn’t think anything of it.

Now, let’s compare it to these two books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you see those two books, you are most likely to at least question what the books are about. One of them clearly says “A Dark College Romance” which gives some kind of indication that this is not going to be cute and fluffy. And most certainly isn’t for kids.

I do feel that some of these more explicit books that have a softer cover need to have some kind of sticker on the front, side, back or inside to clearly indicate that this is not a book for young readers. Just something to indicate this book has spice, and adult spice at that. Similarly to movies having ratings on them to indicate the age rage.

Now, I am not here to dictate what age a young adult should be reading about adult themes. That is up to each parents decision. However, that decision should be informed and not easily snuck. Just like adult videos online are clearly labeled and can be restricted, such things in books should be as well. Especially when there are clearly explicit themes or the topics may be a little more unsavory. I did a whole other post about this related to dark romance specifically.

Put yourself in parents shoes!

Most parents will be upset when their child accesses adult content. In fact, most of those websites are only for 18+ and there’s even pushes to verify your age to keep safe! Books can be just as graphic – although with words. But words or visuals can still have the same impact, especially with people who got a good imagination. I know I can read a book or watch a movie and get the same feelings and experiences from it.

So why are books with such adult content allowed to be packaged and sold in a way that can be misleading? Why are libraries or stores potentially placing them in the wrong sections (I saw a post recently on Threads that ACOTAR was in the YA section in a store????). I’m not blaming stores either because with the volume of books out there they have to get through a lot of books and organize it. They can’t micro-analyze everything.

And by adult content, I am not even entirely meaning spice. Adult content can be from sex to violence to just general themes that a younger reader is probably not old enough to read about or understand safely (post coming on this soon).

But, books maybe should have a better system to be more clear in who the audience is.

Maybe use the library system on the spine?

When I go to a library, I see books organized by sections and based on the system of the library, it will say something like “YA” or “ADULT” on the spine to indicate the section it should be in. It’s something small but very quickly indicates the age rage.

Maybe color code?

I’ve seen some authors who write books color their books based on the theme/level of spice/content. Maybe having some kind of color on a spine (not the whole spine, but a dot or a square) to indicate the level of adult content in the book.

Rate books like movies?

Just like movies have ratings, maybe books need to utilize a similar system.

The book ratings, just like movie ratings, wouldn’t be limiting but more for awareness. Maybe books, book stores and libraries need to implement a system like movies do. If someone is not old enough, a parent just needs to say “Yup, I’m good with my kind taking this out.”

This is of course my opinion, but why in the world when we restrict access to adult content to 18+ can books be so widely accessible and be allowed to be “misleading” with their covers and synopsis. I use the word misleading loosely because covers are subjective and based on what the author wants the book to be represented by. And every author/publishing house has the right to give any kind of book any kind of cover! But to cover their bases, topic depending, maybe some kind of rating or piece of information needs to be given.

Books aren’t special. They are another form of media and the consumption of them can impact someone. Dark Romance books usually include trigger warnings because they can trigger people. Movies have warnings and trailer that indicate what the level of violence is or what the topic may be.

And this idea about rating books isn’t limited to romance. There are plenty of travel books I read that based on the synopsis and cover I thought would be light, only to be hit by some terribly dark themes that made the books difficult to read.

I don’t have the clear answer on how to fix this issue – or what I see as an issue. But this should be a conversation to protect younger readers, and also just anyone else reading books.

Books are made for certain ages for a reason. Not to limit someones access to the book, but to protect the readers. Similar to how you talk about topics in different ways based on ages and level of understanding.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

The Rainbow Book Bus: Book Freedom & Inclusion

 in Banned Book / Books by

You know what you are missing from your life? A bus that brings books that allows everyone to read whatever they want while supporting everyone! If that’s what you need, then you need the Rainbow Book Bus!

I recently came across the Rainbow Book Bus and my goodness am I glad that I did. I love this idea!

According to their website:

“Through our flagship bookmobile program, The Rainbow Book Bus distributes diverse books to communities with reduced access to them. We aim to support and amplify organizations that oppose censorship, promote literacy or empower historically underrepresented storytellers. We work towards educational freedom by fighting existing censorship and reacting to future attacks aimed to reduce access to inclusive stories for young people.”

Their reasoning is to help combat all the book censoring that has been going on recently across the United States.

The bus was designed by queer artists India Torrez and Paco May and the bus is absolutely beautiful!

From their website rainbookbus.org

To learn a little more about this bus, definitely check out this video below!

Their tour has begun and as of 14 March they are in Louisiana and working their way around some southern states. You can check out their tour to see if they’re going to be stopping somewhere nearby! This book bus tour is connected with the opening of Allstora which was created by the absolutely wonderful RuPaul! Their goal with the bus is to give away 10,000 books by the end of the year – specifically books that have been criticized and banned.

I think this is such a fun and engaging way to get awareness out there, help to bring banned/restricted books to others and have some fun while doing it!

Book covers are leaning on the Rainbow Book Bus, a converted school bus whose stop sign has been changed to say “Slay.”

From NY Times post.

Books are for everyone and no one has the right to restrict your access or ban them!

Follow The Rainbook Book Bus and it’s journey on Instagram – I know I will be!

 

 

Banned Book Website List

 in Banned Book / Books by

I got an interesting email later today saying that I had been included in a list of 30 banned book information websites. It was quite an honor to be included in this list, along side PEN America and Unite Against Banned Books!

I wanted to share the website that lists the 30 websites as if you are looking to keep on top of Banned Book information, or understand what is going on more, this list does contain some really great (and reputable) websites that I would highly recommend. A lot of the top 10 in the list I use regularly!

Check out this page of 30 Best Banned Book Blogs and Websites and peep me at spot 21.

Dark Romance Tropes: Toxic & Dangerous or Okay Fantasy? 1

 in Books / Opinion / Romance by

Romance is all over Bookstagram and beyond in the past few months. Spicy books have kind of surged back with stores like The Ripped Bodice and others catering to romance readers.

But when you think of romance, a lot of the uninitiated think of bodice ripper books, they may think of the Mills and Boone kind where there’s the rugged man, the damsel in distress and some nooky nooky. That of course still exists, but now there’s a much darker side too.

Dark romance are romance books with a much darker side to them. They can be as gentle as there’s a loving relationship but the MMC is a bike gang member but nothing super dark happens in the book. But they can be as extreme as people being unalived in books while characters get it on. Dark romance tropes include things like:

  • Stalker
  • Cheating/Infidelity
  • Serial Killer
  • Non Consent
  • Knife Play
  • Pregnancy
  • Kidnapping
  • Somnophilia

Now for the uninitiated, you probably look at this and go “why in all that is good would someone want to read this?” Well, I am no psychologist so I cannot tell you why. But, people do and they eat it up. I’m not here to discuss the reasoning people do – you can’t say it’s Daddy issues, or an abusive family at all. There are plenty of people who grew up in very healthy lives who enjoy or consume these books (I’m one of them). People just like what they like.

What I am here to talk about is what concerns can be. Back in the day when adult videos became readily accessible there were concerns that this may make people more violent and have unrealistic standards. While I don’t have the data to back it up (although there are some articles out there), we have seen adult videos give people unrealistic standards on what a sideways tango should look like, and result in people who watch too much having….physical performance issues.

Dark romance has me asking similar questions. If someone lives on a steady stream of a dark romance diet with really dark themes and going darker and darker, can this blur what is deemed to be healthy?

I would argue that for the average reader where you read other things and sprinkle in some dark romance, it shouldn’t have too big of an impact. But if you have a very constant and steady stream of this, or you are a younger and impressionable reader, then that can really impact you.

Reading a book, even a hard core smut book, isn’t as taboo as maybe watching adult films. I can read the dirtiest book in public and 99.9999% of people would not bat an eye. You can’t do that with adult videos. So the point is, you can read as much of this you want, where ever you want. Too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. Effects of adult videos (not suitable for work link) are known through various studies, but the same studies haven’t been done with books. Who is to say reading too much of this hard core stuff impacts you?

Now, once again, I am not talking about the actual sideways tango in the books. I’m talking about the mix of that and the violence, stalking or otherwise illegal activities that, mixed with the tangoing, can blur the lines. I know I’ve read books with some of the most f-ed up stuff and been like “well you know…I’m okay with it in this context” and have to check myself like woah what? Now imagine all you do is read this all day, or that’s your entry into romance books, or you’ve never had a relationship (healthy or otherwise). You may begin to fantasize about these extreme bad boys so that when someone good comes your way that’s not what you want.

I have no direct data to back any of this up and I’m just expression hypothesis’ and opinions, but we see people falling in love with murderers and serial killers. Women specifically are, usually, a bit more drawn to the bad boy. Now when the bad boy in your books does a lot of crazy stuff, you read it, and it desensitizes you a little bit, that’s when it becomes a concern.

Takeaways/TL;DR

Read your books! Live your fantasies! That is completely healthy. Love your dark romances of a crazy nature, because I know I do. But make sure you take breaks, reset and make sure what you read isn’t bleeding into your real life.

For younger readers, or parents of younger readers, make sure you are checking what your kids are reading. Some of the dirtiest and darkest books have the most unassuming covers! No, don’t be censoring books but books are made for different ages for a reason and a 15 year old should not be reading books like Malevolent King or The Predator. I’ll be delving a little more into covers in another post, but sometimes dark romances have covers and titles that don’t always give it away.

 

What are your thoughts on this?